New Cannes Lions app, powered by Grip, transformed networking at this year’s Festival of Creativity

Cannes Lions launched its first dedicated Networking App, delivered in partnership with PHD and powered by Grip, at the 63rd International Festival of Creativity, which took place from 18th to 25th June 2016.
The app enabled delegates at the event to digitally network with like-minded professionals for the first time in its history. Attendees were able to anonymously swipe right to connect via the ground-breaking app created by Grip - the world’s first artificial intelligence (AI) powered app of its kind.

Over 9,000 attendees from 4,000+ companies and 93 countries used the app across the Festival’s duration. Over 750,000 swipes were made and over 10,000 swipes resulted in a connection forming a digital ‘handshake’.
Networking is central to the Cannes Lions experience and the interactive and engaging interface made meaningful connections easier than ever. The app quickly climbed to Number 2 in the Top New Business apps on the Google Play store.
Avril Canavan, Worldwide Marketing and Communications Director for PHD said: "PHD has been the official partner since the main Festival app launched six years ago, so we were excited to also be part of this new standalone app for networking. It's great to see how well it's been received by delegates in its first year."
Richard Boswell, Digital Project Manager for Cannes Lions, said: “We’re delighted with the response to the new app, which transformed the way people met. With over 15,000 attendees this year, it was vital the right connections were made with the right people.”
Tim Groot, Grip’s Co-founder and CPO, said: “It was exciting to see the app being used so effectively at an event of the Cannes Lions Festival’s magnitude and scope. Our smart app worked effectively with the vision of the Festival’s team, ensuring the use of social and behavioural data resulted in clever professional matchmaking.”
Since Grip launched in April 2015, its AI powered networking solution has taken the events world by storm - empowering professionals to meet their maximum networking potential.